5/27/61 – I played all day. C & E (great aunt and uncle) came over Grandmas.

5/28/61 – I played. We went to church. When we got home I played with J (cousin)

5/29/61 – I went to school. when I came home I played. Grandpa came over.

5/30/61 – I played with J (cousin). She and V (cousin) spent the night.

5/31/61 – I went to school. It was the last day. When I came home we went to the store. Then to the dime store.

6/1/61 – I played. It was mother’s birthday. We went to town. I got her a box of powder, and a vace (vase) of flowers. P (sister) got her a bottle of perfume. N (aunt) got her a perfume bottle. J (cousin) and D (cousin) got her some flowers. I spent the night over J’s (cousin)

6/2/61 – I played all day. J (cousin) and i played in the water. Then we went to the driving range. (golf). B (aunt) went with us.

6/3/61 – We played. We went to get Dusty (our dog) and Toro (grandma’s dog) vaxanatied (vaccinated). Then we went to Grannys. T (uncle) was over. Granny went home with him. We went to the dime store. We got a 101 Dalmations set. (I think this was one of those Playform vinyl punch-out & stick on a scene things that was so popular back then.)

6/4/61 – I played. We went to Grandmas. Then we went to B’s (aunt) Daddy and H (uncle) went glofing (golfing) at night. Grand pa came over and ate supper with us.

6/5/61 – I played. I gathered Black berries. We went to town. We bought a desk. When we came home I played. M & O (friends of parents) came over. A storm came.

6/6/61 – I played all day. Mother got a permenint (permanent for her hair)

They went in, and began to look around. They were in no hurry. Ghost found some canvas sneakers he could write on, and some cool looking Ugg boots, just his size. Steve checked out the t-shirts with funny sayings on them. He came and showed Ghost one he’d found.

“What do ya think of this one?” Steve asked, holding it up. The front was printed with the logo of the tv show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”. He laughed, “This one I’ve gotta have.”

“That’s not funny, Steve, put it back.”

“Nope, I’m getting it, and wearing it Saturday night,” Steve said.

“You want to draw attention to what happened?” Ghost asked.

“Nobody knows nothing about there being real vampires in town,” Steve said, “and this is just from a silly tv show.”

“Sure, then go ahead…see how many people ask about it,” Ghost said.

“Ok, I will,” Steve said, then went back to find more shirts.

Ghost looked through the miscellaneous bins, and found a couple of patches to sew onto his Army jacket. He then wandered over to find Steve, still looking through the t-shirts.

“Did ya find anything else?” he asked.

“Yeah, a couple, and this here one’s for you.” Steve held up a soft, long-sleeved shirt with the logo of another tv show on the front. This one was printed, “Ghost Adventures”. Ghost grinned, “I like it.”

They looked over the camping equipment, but felt like they had enough, for now. Steve found a few books to add to his collection, though.

“Well, ya ready to get some lunch?” Steve asked.

“Yeah, maybe we could get that pizza, now.” Ghost agreed.

So, that’s what they did. They enjoyed their afternoon..no stress, no worries…

~

Back in Missing Mile, though, things were not so peaceful. Trevor and Zach stopped into Terry’s shop, and also into the club, asking about Nothing. They found out that Nothing and Steve had argued, right before Nothing left, and that Steve left right after. They were not liking what they heard.

“We need to go out to Ghost’s house, to talk to Steve,” Zach said. “He lied to us this morning…or at least didn’t tell us the whole story, ya know.”

So, they drove out to Burnt Church road, leaving Terry and Kinsey with information to gossip about. Terry called Kinsey, as soon as they’d left his shop.

“What do you make of it,” Terry asked.

“I don’t know, but I told you about the other night, right?” Kinsey said. “Steve was going on about Nothing being a vampire. Craziest I’ve ever seen him. Now, Nothing comes up missing…doesn’t sound good, Terry, doesn’t sound good, at all.”

Terry nodded, “Well, Nothing is pretty strange…maybe he just flaked out…took off with all the money, and left Trevor and Zach to fend for themselves. Wouldn’t be the first time we all got screwed by a manager, ya know,” he shrugged. “Me, it don’t matter that much…the money. I got enough. I just like playing in a band. But, those two kids, they need it. Damn shame, if that’s what happened,” Terry went on.

“I know,” Kinsey said, “but something’s fishy about it. They went out there, to see Steve. Guess we’ll hear what happens.”

“Yeah, guess we will at that,” Terry said.

~

Zach drove down the road to Ghost’s house.

“Where’s his house?” Trevor asked.

“I heard it was down at the dead end of Burnt Church road. That’s what we’re on right now. Guess we’ll see it when the road ends,” Zach said.

“Do you think it’ll be creepy? I mean, Ghost is kinda weird…maybe he has a haunted old house.”

“How should I know, Trev. Couldn’t be much creepier than your house,” Zach said.

“Yeah, but we’re used to our weird things, and they don’t happen as much now, anyway,” Trevor said. “I always thought I had to stay there, but you didn’t have to.” Trevor looked over at Zach.

Zach smiled, “I knew I had to, as soon as I met you. I didn’t know about the house until later…then I didn’t care. I was staying wherever you were.” Zach took Trevor’s hand, squeezing it.

“I’m glad you did, Zach, it just wouldn’t be the same without you.”

They came to the end of the road and stopped.

“It has to be here somewhere,” Zach said, looking around. “This is the end of the road. All we can do is turn around and go back; there isn’t any other road.”

Zach gave Trevor a look, “Dude, you’re getting all spooked, and it’s not Halloween for another two weeks.”

“Well, where is it, then?” Trevor asked.

All they could see were pine trees, and vines…a wall of greens, yellows, and oranges of the fall vegetation on either side of the road. Driving slowly back in the other direction, Trevor pointed out a narrow, dirt path, they’d missed the first time.

“Look, is that a road, or trail, there?” Trevor said.

“Where?” Zach looked closer, then stopped the car. “Oh, yeah, now I see it..kinda by that crooked tree,.but can a car even go down there?”

“Well, you can try, or we can walk, but Steve has a car…he gets to their house, somehow.” Trevor said.

“Ok, I’ll try it,” Zach said, as he pulled onto the dirt path. The tree limbs scraped the sides of the car. “Hang on, I’m going a little farther up here. If I don’t see a house soon, I’m turning back.”

They did come upon a small opening, that was relatively clear of trees. “There it is, Zach,” Trevor pointed to the house, and the gravel drive. “It doesn’t look very scary,” he said. “It’s old, but just a house, right?”

Zach pulled up in front of the house. They sat there a minute, staring at it.

“Well, come on, let’s go see, first,” Zach said, as he got out of the car.

“Uh, now it’s getting creepy, Zach,” Trevor said. He’d stopped, when he saw the warding off star painted on the porch, and the metal, gargoyle door knocker.

“Well, we’re here…we’re not gonna back off now,” Zach said. He grabbed the ring that hung down from the gargoyles nose, and knocked on the door.

Nothing happened. Zach shrugged, then knocked again.

“Let’s go, Zach. They’re not here.”

“Just a minute…I’m going around back, first…just to see what’s back there, c’mon,” Zach said, then started off around the side of the house

The back yard looked pretty normal…a garden plot, going to seed, a few pumpkins, a scraggly tomato plant, it’s leaves dried up…only a couple of left over tomatoes hanging on. There was a wheelbarrow, and a water hose nearby. The ground was muddy around the porch. Scanning the far back yard, through the trees, Zach spotted the old Civil War graveyard.

They ran back to the car and started laughing, as they locked all the doors. “Get us out of here, Zach. That’s just too unreal…Ghost lives in a graveyard!”

They headed back down the dirt path and onto the main road. Just as they came to the road leading to Missing Mile, they passed Steve and Ghost, heading home. They didn’t know it was them, though…they’d never seen Steve’s car before, but Steve had seen Zach at the wheel of his own car.

“Ghost…that was Zach and Trevor. They were at the house. I’m turning around…gonna ask them why they were snooping around out here.” Steve said.

“Wait, Steve,” Ghost said. “Let’s check the house, first. They probably just left, when they found out we weren’t home…and besides, they’re gonna ask about Nothing.”

“Oh, yeah…I don’t know what to say about that anyway…not yet, at least. We better get the story straight…and you better keep your mouth shut, Ghost. You almost blabbed the whole thing, this morning. You just pretend you don’t know anything about it,” Steve said.

“But, Steve…I do know.”

“Don’t start with that ‘I can’t lie’ shit, Ghost. This is one time you might have to. So, if you just keep quiet, then you won’t be lying…’cause you won’t be saying anything…understand?”

This is a work of “fan fiction” based on the novel, “Lost Souls” by Poppy Z. Brite. All credit for the original characters, places, and some backstory mentions, belong to Ms. Brite and her publishing affiliates. Only newly introduced characters, places, and original elements of this story are entirely from my imagination. Character descriptions are a blend of the original book descriptions and my interpretation of them.

All songs included in this work will be solely owned by the original performers/writers and will be credited. Creative liscense is taken in including them in this story.

No harm is intended toward author, muscians, or people and situations to whom there may be a resemblence.

warning warning warning warning

The content herein is rated by me as being at the high end of MA (Mature Audience). It includes strong language, violence, sexual themes, including same sex pairings, religious themes, and fantasy horror.

First photo is me, in the grocery store monitor. Next is a metal bench and luggage carts outside the DFW airport. Last photo isn’t really so odd, but was fun. I saw these carolers outside the grocery store. They were taking donations for the Salvation Army. They also had their cute dog dressed up for the occasion, and were asking people passing by to join in their singing. I did for a minute on the song Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. (I forgot to put this photo on my Christmas post, and wanted to just add it here.) 🙂

Time for another SYW with questions from Cee and answers from me! It’s fun-join in by clicking link above. 🙂

What’s your favorite ice-cream flavor?

This one! Also, one called Sweet Cream, a sort of vanilla, but better. 🙂

If you were to treat yourself to the “finer things” what would you treat yourself to?

I’m not a ‘finer things’ type of person. I like shopping yard sales, thrift stores, vintage and antique shops. I don’t ever wear fancy clothes, just flip flops, yoga pants, and interesting BoHo type tops. I don’t go to spas, or cruises, or anything like that, and wouldn’t want to. If anything, I’d have a better house, or more than one, so I could change locations according to the weather (think warm/hot places; can’t deal with cold and snow)

Have you ever been drunk?

Yes

Complete this sentence: My favorite supposedly guilty pleasure is…

Doughnuts – any kind, any time

Optional Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

Happy we had a wonderful Christmas vacation visiting with our daughter, son-in-law, and grandson. Glad we weren’t caught in a blizzard! Next week? Who knows, it’s a whole new year to fill with adventures. 🙂

Steve waited up on the back porch, while Ghost went to get the old wheelbarrow. He planned on dumping what was left of Nothing’s body into it, and rolling the whole squishy bag out to the far reaches of the graveyard behind their house.

“Here, this is as close as I can get it, Steve,” Ghost said, as he returned with the wheelbarrow.

“Ok, it’ll do, I guess,” Steve said. “Now, hold on to the handles, so it don’t tip over, and I’m gonna roll this off in there.”

He did, and it landed mostly in the wheelbarrow, with just one edge hanging over the side. Steve came down off the porch. Ghost began wheeling the uneven load down the path toward the graveyard, almost tipping it over a couple of times.

“I’m sweating to death, Steve, and these gnats are sticking to me,” Ghost said, stopping to slap at them.

“I know, me too, but we’re almost to the back, now. Did you get the shovel?”

“The shovel? Crap, I didn’t even think of it,” Ghost said.

Steve rolled his eyes, “Well, here…take the flashlight, and go back and get it. I’ll keep going out to the back part over there.”

When Ghost returned, he sat down next to Steve, to rest. “It’s gonna be daylight, soon…how fast can you dig?”

“It’s gonna take awhile, I think. You’re gonna do some too, ya know,” Steve said. He wiped sweat off his face. “I’ll get it started.”

They took turns digging, and finally figured it was deep enough. They rolled the wheelbarrow over, and tipped the bag into the hole. As they finished shoveling dirt over it, they pulled some branches over the whole thing, hoping it was hidden.

“That’s it, then. Let’s go back to the house. I’ve got to hose down the porch.” Steve got up to leave.

They made it back, just as the sun was rising. Steve got the garden hose, and squirted the blood off the back porch, while Ghost chunked his shoes in the trash barrel.

“I’m going in, Steve…gonna light the sage, then get in the shower. I feel filthy.”

When he was done, Steve took his turn getting cleaned up. The house smelled fresh again, and felt cleansed, but they were both exhausted.

“I’m so tired, Steve,and I’m hungry. But, I don’t feel like I should be happy about eating, ya know?”

“What are you talking about?” Steve asked. “We’re still here, and we’re lucky to be alive.”

“But, Nothing was alive, too…and now he can’t eat, or be happy anymore.”

“Stop thinking like that, Ghost. It don’t help. We just need to forget it and do our best to survive…to live for as long as we got, and be happy about it.”

“Yeah, guess so,” Ghost said. “So, what can we eat, then?”

“I don’t know..ya want to go get pizza?”

Ghost laughed. “Steve, it’s morning, and I want pancakes.”

“Oh, yeah…well, let’s go to the diner. They’ll be open already.”

~

When they drove up to the diner and parked, Ghost said, “I feel like everyone is staring at us. It’s like they know what we did.”

They found a booth and ordered their breakfast. The diner was filling up with customers, this early Sunday morning. Some said hello. Ghost and Steve tried to look normal, even though they both were feeling conspicuous. Then Ghost looked up, as the door opened again.

They finished, eating, then headed for the door. Ghost went on out, and before Steve could pay and leave, Zach motioned him over to their table.

“I was wondering, Steve, did you see Nothing, after we left last night? He was supposed to come by, but he never showed up,” Zach said.

“Uh, yeah, I saw him,” Steve said. “He was in the office. I was at the pool table, when he came out. Guess he left..I didn’t see him after that.”

“Well, ok…” Zach said. “If you do see him, tell him we’re looking for him.”

“Sure, will do, Zach,” Steve said. “Later, man…”

~

Ghost was already in the car, waiting on Steve. “What took ya so long?” he asked.

“It was that Zach dude. He wanted to know if I’d seen Nothing. I told him I saw him leave, that’s all.”

“Oh, man, what are going to do, now? Was that all… you just saw him leave?” Ghost asked.

“Yeah, Ghost…only before he left, he made some wisecracks, and I told him to leave you alone, if he knew what was good for him. Then he left. Then I came home, and there he is biting you.,..well you know the rest.”

“Damn, Steve, how many people saw you yell at him? They’ll know you were the last one to see him, and you were mad.”

“Well, so what? That’s all they know…nothing after that…don’t worry about it.”

“Yeah, that’s what you always say. I’ll try, but now we gotta worry about the others,” Ghost said.

“Yeah, I can feel them, but maybe not so strong. It’s like they got lost, or sidetracked or, I don’t know. Nothing said they were mad at us, and wanted to kill us, but that they were stupid and useless, too. So I’m not sure now.”

“So, we just wait around…never know when they’ll show up? That’s just great, Ghost.”

“No, I’ll know for sure, if they get very close. It just isn’t right now.”

“Ok, then…guess I’ll have to trust your ‘feeling’ then, huh?”

“Yeah, guess so,” Ghost smiled.

Steve started the car. “I need to get outta here for awhile,” Steve said. Let’s go into Raleigh…look around or something.”

“Ok, I need to get some new shoes, now, anyway,” Ghost agreed. “Can we go to that thrift store we were at before?”

This is a work of “fan fiction” based on the novel, “Lost Souls” by Poppy Z. Brite. All credit for the original characters, places, and some backstory mentions, belong to Ms. Brite and her publishing affiliates. Only newly introduced characters, places, and original elements of this story are entirely from my imagination. Character descriptions are a blend of the original book descriptions and my interpretation of them.

All songs included in this work will be solely owned by the original performers/writers and will be credited. Creative liscense is taken in including them in this story.

No harm is intended toward author, muscians, or people and situations to whom there may be a resemblence.

warning warning warning warning

The content herein is rated by me as being at the high end of MA (Mature Audience). It includes strong language, violence, sexual themes, including same sex pairings, religious themes, and fantasy horror.

Hope everyone had a wonderful and fun Christmas. We sure had a great time. Went out of state to visit family and friends for a few days, celebrated our 47th wedding anniversary at a fancy Italian restaurant, did some shopping, and sightseeing of Christmas lights around the town, played lots of board games with daughter, son-in-law, and grandson, and ate a lot of good food. We just got back home today; had to get up at 3 a. m. to catch our flight back. I’m still sleepy, but got everything unpacked now, and getting back to our normal routine here. Happy there wasn’t a blizzard for us to get stuck in, like last year.

I’ll slowly catch up with all your posts from the last few days. Can’t wait to read what y’all have been up to.